Jazz gets vivid at the Vie

Sipping cocktails and listening to different jazz bands is one of life’s true pleasures, and you can do it six nights a week at the chic and relaxing Vie Bar at the Vie Hotel Bangkok on Phaya Thai Road.
Jazz @ VIE debuted last month – live sessions from 9pm to midnight with local favourites and aspiring talents.
Phaya Thai Road is well known for the great food sold along the curbs, and also for the venerable Saxophone Pub & Restaurant facing the Victory Monument.
A beacon for jazz and blues, Saxophone caters to everyone who enjoys good music and a friendly atmosphere. For some patrons, though, it gets a little crowded and the decibels rise too high. It’s not always great for relaxing after work or having a chat.
That’s where the Vie Bar comes in. It’s two Skytrain stops further down from Saxophone and even offers the same hotel-bar ambience, but the comfort level is much higher.
There are super-spacious cushioned sofas, a decent sound system for live jazz and reasonably priced drinks.
On Monday and Tuesday, RATrio takes the stage with sweet-voiced Fangkao. Wednesday and Thursday is reserved for Koh Mr Saxman and the Takeshi Band, with guest appearances by Lookwah from Doo ba Doo, Fon from Monotone KOM and singer Lookpad Chonlanan.
Saturday is another big night, with star-studded performances by Hank the Groove and rising star T-SiX. The award-winning sextet of students from Mahidol and Silapakorn universities has honed its experience backing up famous bands, including Som Amara, Nui Viriyapa and Pom Autoban.
There’s no live band on Sunday, instead a chill-out jazz DJ set from early until closing time.
It’s a good idea to get there early so you can take advantage of the generous happy hour – Bt99 for wine by the glass, beer, spirits and standard cocktails from 6 to 8pm.
You can also get a bottle of Chivas Regal with four mixers for Bt1,500 anytime of the night and the bar’s three signature cocktails are Bt240 anytime.
For a fast freshener, order a Peppermint Sense – vodka, Midori melon, peppermint liqueur, pineapple juice and a squeeze of lime. Vie’s Bailey is definitely for the sweet-toothed with Bailey’s, Kahlua, crème de cacao mint, fresh milk and chocolate. The most potent is the Teatini – vodka, peach tea and lime.
And there are snacks starting at Bt150 and the Vie Trio selection at Bt239.

 Fine living
_ The Vie Bar is open daily from 5.30pm to 1am.
_ The Vie Hotel is on Phaya Thai Road close to the Ratchathewi Skytrain station.
_ Call (02) 309 3939 or visit www.VieHotelBangkok.com.